HC Deb 22 July 1976 vol 915 cc1981-3
1. Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost of holding direct elections to a European Parliament should such elections be held at a time independent from any other elections.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Roy Jenkins)

The cost will depend on the nature of the arrangements decided by Parliament but is likely to be about £10 million if normal parliamentary election procedures are followed.

Mr. Marten

As this is probably the last time that the Home Secretary will be answering Questions at the Dispatch Box, although I have disagreed with him about the Common Market may I wish him well in his new job and thank him for the services he has given to Parlia- ment? Will he ensure that British money is used in the elections here and not money which has been imported from the Community?

Mr. Jenkins

I am, of course, grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his remarks. I have a number of further Questions to answer, and I may ask a few questions in the future. I do not want to get too early into the Dame Nellie Melba position which this sometimes is.

Mr. Russell Kerr

She was Australian.

Mr. Jenkins

There is nothing wrong with that. I hope and believe that, as in the referendum campaign, which cost about the same amount and of which I think the hon. Gentleman was in favour, the money used will be British.

Miss Boothroyd

May I associate this side of the House with the remarks made by the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten)? My right hon. Friend will certainly be missed at the Dispatch Box during what is a unique occasion in this Parliament. Will he draw to the attention of the hon. Member for Banbury the evidence given by the local authority associations to the Select Committee in which they said that to hold direct elections to the European Parliament on the same day as any other election would cost more than if direct elections were held at a different time? Does my right hon. Friend sympathise with the views expressed by the local authority associations?

Mr. Jenkins

Yes. I am deeply grateful to my hon. Friend for her remarks. If it is necessary I shall draw the attention of the hon. Member for Banbury to the report to which she has referred. At one stage, it was my own view that direct elections might be linked perhaps with local authority elections, but having considered the matter I am increasingly persuaded that that would not be desirable.

Mrs. Kellett-Bowman

Does the Home Secretary accept that the issues involved in the direct elections would be so important that many people will be glad that he has been converted to the idea of letting them stand on their own feet and not allowing them to become mixed up with local elections? I genuinely join with other hon. Members in welcoming the Home Secretary to the European Parliament.

Mr. Jenkins

I am not sure that I shall be allowed to be a Member of the European Parliament. My own conversion is less important than what the Select Committee is likely to say on the matter. We all look forward to the report.

Mr. Dalyell

May I warn my right hon. Friend that he will not be rid of me, because I shall he asking him questions at Strasbourg? Will he reflect on the sheer cost of the nomadic nature of the European Parliament?

Mr. Jenkins

I had probably better reserve my comments on that, although I note what my hon. Friend, who speaks from considerable experience, has said.